A strange smell, both like a sweet floral scent and the stench emanating from rotten fruit.
Was that the smell of death?
Why had Simon suddenly shown such monstrous strength?
Deep wrinkles carved into Claudia’s forehead as she sat on the chair.
[Dash] Squeak.The door that moved only during mealtime slowly opened.
Claudia’s blue eyes didn’t waver a bit.
It was the same when Duke Brenden appeared.
“I wanted to meet you, Sir RoseRoyce.”
“Visits are supposed to be prohibited.”
“There’s nowhere my influence doesn’t reach.”
Even after losing his eldest son and having his daughter locked in an ice tower, Duke Brenden hadn’t lost his arrogance.
Even though he had rough skin like tree bark and bloodshot eyes.
Even with his withered lips.
“You’re not surprised.”
“I heard the footsteps of a man who hasn’t trained his body.”
“You’re worthy of the knight who fought my son and the horn.”
Duke Brenden chuckled bitterly.
Only for a moment, he glared at Claudia with a killing intent.
“If the tyrant hadn’t interfered, you’d be the one dead!”
“Did you come to say that?”
“I want to discuss the future of the empire.”
“I don’t understand what you mean.”
“I’m suggesting we join forces.”
“And where do you suggest we apply this force?”
“A revolution.”
Claudia stared at Duke Brenden with a calm face.
Only her blue pupils were as sharp as a wellforged blade.
“You’ve seen it too, haven’t you? The tyrant brutally killed my innocent son.”
“Do you want to follow your son? Labeling it a revolution for your revenge?”
“The tyranny is just beginning. If we leave him be, there’s no guarantee for the future of the empire. We could even become a colony of enemy countries.”
“It might happen, or it might not.”
“What’s with that lukewarm attitude? Weren’t you the first to raise the flag of revolution?”
Duke Brenden ground his teeth.
Claudia crossed her slender legs to the other side.
“I don’t understand what you’re saying.”
“You intend to live alone?”
“Even if I dreamt of a revolution, I don’t want to be involved with you.”
“Arrogant. There’s no revolution successful without gold.”
“A revolution involves blood. Petty feelings shouldn’t interfere.”
“That witch Elizabeth made the emperor a murderer.”
“Do you really think the emperor threw his sword because of her?”
Claudia asked coldly.
Duke Brenden let out a forced laugh.
“Of course! Simon was trying to kill you, which provoked the emperor. He killed my son to protect his property!”
“It’s inconsistent.”
“What?”
“It’s true Simon aimed for my life. But he couldn’t kill me with his skills.”
“What are you saying?!”
“Even if he got lucky and killed me, he would be disqualified. So why would Elizabeth kill Simon? She would win anyway.”
“That, that is…”
Duke Brenden stammered.
A cold smirk appeared on Claudia’s lips.
“Everyone is attacking Elizabeth without basic verification.”
“Are you taking the side of that witch?”
“I’m not on anyone’s side.”
“While turning a blind eye to the tyrant’s atrocities?”
“I intend to find out what the truth is.”
“What can you do while imprisoned?”
“I’ll do what I can.”
“I was a fool to have planned something big with you! To have tried to tell you a truth no one knows!”
Spit flew from Duke Brendan’s mouth.
Claudia jerked her head back and frowned.
It was more exhausting than expected to let a simple opponent ramble on.
“How could I trust Your Grace, who comes to me talking of revolution, having been a dueling opponent?”
“Do you think I will stab you in the back?”
“That won’t happen. I don’t entrust my back to just anyone.”
“How insolent!”
Duke Brendan couldn’t hold back his anger and clenched his fist.
Claudia muttered, looking at the fist that appeared thinner than a child’s wrist.
“Build up your muscles if you’re going to make a fist. And ease up on your shoulders.”
“Damn it. I will never forget today!”
Duke Brendan retreated, making noises.
Claudia spoke, aiming at the back of his head as he fled.
“If His Majesty stakes his reputation, if Elizabeth is truly a villain, the revolution will happen, whether Duke Brendan obstructs it or not.”
“Don’t act so superior, woman. You know nothing about the Emperor.”
“What do you mean?”
“If this secret gets out, the Emperor will become a laughingstock. Though he’d be executed by my hands before that!”
(This is a time separator.)
Her head was throbbing.
It was all Franz’s fault.
“Why are you coming along when Susan and I are going to the farm?”
She asked, putting her hands on her hips.
Franz shrugged his shoulders as if to ask why she was questioning the obvious.
“Didn’t Farmer Boritz make a tonic for me? I have to personally thank him.”
“The outside of the palace is too dangerous.”
“Elizabeth is planning to leave the dangerous outside of the palace.”
“Am I like you?”
“Wouldn’t I be much safer than Elizabeth?”
Franz smirked with a peculiar expression.
It was clear he was hiding something.
“What nonsense are you talking about?”
“I’ll tell you the secret. But there’s a condition.”
Male lead is a Destined Young Husband (Female-dominant)
One-sentence summary: Wife-master, listen to my explanation!
Li Ruantang, a young lady from a prestigious family, stumbled and fell. When she woke up, she saw a noble and beautiful young man sitting by her bedside, wiping away tears.
The young master had slightly reddened eyes, and his every move exuded charm.
The sight made Li Ruantang’s eyes hot and her heart flutter. After all, she had made a bet with the young master Meng from the neighboring family. If she couldn’t marry a husband before the end of the year, she would have to admit defeat and give up the jade she had worked so hard to obtain.
Outside the window, the flowers were in full bloom.
Rather than losing the bet, the jade, and her face, Li Ruantang calculated that it would be better to seek marriage with the young master in front of her, killing three birds with one stone.
…
Meng Jun never thought that an accident during a spring outing would lead to them rolling down a cliff and into a river, yet still survive.
Now they were trapped in an unknown village, and Meng Jun had overheard that the family who had rescued them had their own intentions.
After all, it was Li Ruantang who had lost her mind and sought marriage first. He was only trying to protect himself!
Glancing at Li Ruantang, who was listing her own merits, the young husband’s voice softened, and he blushed as he lied, “W-wife-master, Wife-master, don’t you remember me?”
The young husband’s voice was clear and handsome, coaxing Li Ruantang’s heart to be soft and sweet, and she spared no effort to protect him.
It wasn’t until they returned to the capital that Li Ruantang suddenly remembered.
When they had fallen off the cliff, in order not to implicate Wei Yunruo, whom he secretly admired, the young husband had instead pulled her, who was slightly farther away, down the cliff with him…
Short summary by Yuushi L: Initially, the male lead (ML) liked another girl, while the female lead (FL) liked the ML. Both fell off a cliff. The FL temporarily lost her memory, and the ML, fearing others might take advantage of him, claimed FL was his wife while they were staying in a village. Later, when they returned home, the FL regained her memories and remembered that the ML liked someone else, so she kept her distance from him. However, during their time living together in the countryside, the ML’s view of the FL had completely changed. From this point, his pursuit of the FL begins.
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